BioWare cofounders to enter AIAS Hall of Fame

Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk set for induction for career credits including Baldur's Gate, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Star Wars: The Old Republic.

For the last 13 years, the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has inducted one gaming luminary into its Hall of Fame per year. For next year, the AIAS will break with tradition to add two new creators to its hallowed Hall: BioWare cofounders Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk.

Mass Effect 2 was the latest in a string of hits for BioWare.

After getting their start creating medical software, Muzyka and Zeschuk established a reputation for BioWare as a talented developer of role-playing games like Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights. Since then, the developer has produced a number of high-profile hits, including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age. The company's current slate includes follow-up installments for each of those, with Star Wars: The Old Republic being the company's first entry into the massively multiplayer online world.

According to the AIAS, induction into the Hall of Fame is "bestowed on game creators whose efforts and contributions have expanded the scope and success of the interactive entertainment industry." Muzyka and Zeschuk will be inducted by Epic Games president Mike Capps at the 14th annual Interactive Achievement Awards, set for February 10 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. As in previous years, the ceremony will be part of the D.I.C.E. Summit.

Previous AIAS Hall of Fame inductees include Shigeru Miyamoto (Mario, Zelda), Sid Meier (Civilization), Will Wright (SimCity, the Sims), and Yu Suzuki (Shenmue, After Burner). A full list of Hall of Famers along with their contributions to the industry is available at the AIAS Web site.

Star Wars MMO 101 history lesson: SWG pre CU was interesting and HUGELY succesful and FUN for ADULTS! After they dumbed it down for kids it dried up and died.. Note to BIOWARE: Adults have credit cards and pay for subscriptions, kids by and large DON"T! :)

Well deserved. I haven't been impressed with many games as of late, and companies like BioWare keep me happy. Sure their stories are a bit unoriginal in theme, but they are finely crafted and have immersion and acting like no other.

@Kan0nF0dder
A step backward? Really? You can't be serious. How come every time Bioware goes in a new direction with their games people condemn them for it? I'm talking to all of the DA2 nay-sayers by the way. Try to think of where BW would be if every one of their games was another KoTOR.

Very much deserved. I have been playing their games since KOTOR and every game since then, including the Sonic RPG, has been outstanding. From gameplay to story everything has been top notch. I can't wait for Old Republic, DA II and ME III.

Definitely deserved, although I would say that DragonAge/Mass Effect are, from a games = art perspective, a step backwards.
Baldur's Gate/KOTOR were something else...truly two of the greatest games of all time.

Bioware are one of the few genuinely talented, integrity-driven, quality-oriented developers out there. They've always been as interested in making great games as they have been in making profits, and understand that to make money in this industry you have to spend it. All power to them!

Congrats to them, I can't say a more fitting track record as theirs shouldn't belong there. Hell, looking at previous inductees I'd say that ain't a bad group to be included in! Kudos gentlemen, you've guys have certainly earned it, ;)

I feel that EA has really gotten a lot better over the past few years in terms of taking risks and standing behind the quality of their products. There was an observable shift the year their CEO made the "fewer, better games" statement and they put out Mirror's Edge and Dead Space. And as EA has improved, Activision has stepped in to take the mantle of gaming's Galactic Empire. I feel better about where my money is going when I buy something with an EA logo these days than an Activision logo.
On the subject of the induction, they sure deserve it. I don't suppose anyone who goes into interactive entertainment ever foresees being able to say "I'd like to thank the Academy..."

There ought to be a big prize, for the best game devs out there....Kind of like a Nobel prize for the greatest game developer. Maybe not that serious and all, but it will be nice, to see games appreciated in that manner.

EA and Activisionare definitey not bad at publishing solid/great, high selling games. All I'm saying is that some of the criticisms against them from gamers are understandable. If customers are buying their products, they have a right to voice their concerns and complaints regarding these companies so long as it's not just blind fanboyism.
Just because EA and Activision are in the business of making money doesn't mean that people should just be okay with all of their money making antics. Certainly not when they either take away from the depth and immersiveness of certain franchises or opt to put out cash grab after cash grab instead of focusing on maknig the best product they can.

@Tokinblckgie
Who does love them?
They haven't done a bad job with Mass Effect, Battlefield, Call Of Duty or Worl Of Warcraft so far. Money's money and a 1 off charge for dlc is a heck of alot cheaper then spending more then that in a nights drinking or on cigs.

@MEDzZ3RO
EA and Activision are mostly publishers. They acquire different development companies like Bioware and others and simply fund and advertise their games. And their corporate interests, imo, aren't something to be praised. Not when their goal is to make the most money possible instead of making the best games possible.
ps I don't hate them, but I definitely don't love them either.

I love it. I love BioWare. Mass Effect in particular has become a fantastic franchise, and while I thought DA:O was only pretty good (probably because I have the 360 version, and it truly feels like it was made exclusively for the PC) Dragon Age 2 looks great. Also, BioWare is Canadian content at its finest. They're like a shining beacon of awesome for gaming cred North of 49.

I find it amusing how much stick publishers get; in particular EA and Activision. They've both been around for years and have got plenty of successful games under their belts; there aren't many better developpers out there.
Does everyone forget they are running a business at the end of the day and will charge where they can.

Love this, but I hope when they get their award, someone else gets the exact same one slightly later, but then the AIAS add better graphics in a new engine and lots of expensive DLC at a fraction of the price!!

When they come up to the stage to accept the reward, somebody needs to stop them, point back at the other folks from BioWare, and tell them that they need to gather their party before venturing forth. ;)
Definitely well deserved!

BIOWARE, I salute you! KOTOR made my jaw drop more than once due to its ingenuity and is my favorite game of all time(its also what got me into RPGs). I am also a huge fan anything they dish out. keep making awesome games Bioware, there is no company quite like you!
and make a KOTOR 3 its not too much trouble ;)

I think the thing that Bioware has done is create a new genre of games...in which story, character, action, environment, and CHOICE...matter. The formula used for the Mass Effect trilogy can be applied to many future games. To me this formula takes a great novel, an epic movie...uses the Hadon Collider to put them together and places you in the middle with the power to morph the world/galaxy to your will. Where else have you been able to experience that. GO BIOWARE!

@wexorian
o no no , never mentioned anything about graphics in my first post. Graphics are almost always better on pc.
If i commented on graphics, i'd say something like, consoles hold graphics technology back.
This isnt the place to further discuss that, however.
@Greyfox327
kotor (as well as bg1) is a masterpiece, IDK why you mentioned it since it's relatively old. I meant dragon age 2 and mass effect 2.
bg1 and 2 are beautiful, i can handle the visuals just fine :)